‘Arabian Nights’ Is a Wish Come True

Magicians, genies and a flying carpet transformed the Pacific Ballroom of the Newport Beach Marriott into old Baghdad Saturday for the Arabian Nights gala to benefit Casa Teresa.

About 370 guests attended the silent auction and dinner-dance presented by the Casa Teresa Guilds of Orange County. The gala was expected to raise about $35,000 for the home for single mothers in Orange.

Night of Magic

Gala chairwoman Donna Yergler promised her guests a night of magic and surprises, and she delivered.

“In the past we’ve had casino nights,” she said. “This year I wanted to do something different.”

In keeping with the Arabian Nights theme, Yergler produced a “flying carpet” that was suspended from the ballroom ceiling and bore a likeness of Aladdin. She ordered a carpet from Roschu Inc., a Hollywood prop house, only to be informed weeks ago that it had been stolen.

“I told them we had to have a carpet--it’s on the invitations and everything!” Yergler said. The prop house produced a new one.

A highlight of the evening’s entertainment came when Yergler conjured up harem girls from Suzanne’s Dance Factory. The performers, who were all of 6 and 7 years old, belly-danced to the “I Dream of Jeannie” theme song wearing Barbara Eden-style costumes--chiffon harem pants, little pillbox hats and genie slippers. Magician Jason Randal and belly dancer Fahtiem also cast their spells over the crowd.

Sheik Fare

Guests dined under a Baghdad evening “sky” of gold stars dangling from purple balloons that clung to the ballroom ceiling. Below were tables set to please a sultan: Platters filled with fruit were set on a mirror sprinkled with chocolate gold coins and faux gems.

Dinner was also just what the master (or mistress) ordered: cream of shiitake mushroom soup with a pastry crust, a salad of field greens and croutons de cheure , beef tenderloin with truffled bordelaise and jumbo scampi served over lemon linguine. A sweet Sacher torte with mango and raspberry sauce topped the meal.

Casa Is the Cause

Guests paid $75 each to attend the gala, which included a silent auction to raise money for Casa Teresa, which provides shelter and counseling to homeless pregnant women ages 18 to 25. Sally and Neill Sullivan, the gala’s honorary chairmen, founded the casa in 1976.

“There was a tremendous need for a program for single mothers,” Sally Sullivan said. “There was nowhere for a woman to go if she wanted to keep her baby.”

Bill Erickson, executive director of Casa Teresa, said the gala not only helps the home financially, but also “gets the word out” about the facility.

“I hope we’ve made new friends tonight,” he said.

Among the casa’s friends were emcee Tom Limberg, general manager of the Marriott; Dan Marcheano; event vice-chairwoman Mary Camilleri; board president Lissa Callaghan; Orange County Supervisor Thomas Riley and his wife, Emma Jane; Casa program coordinator Sister Ellen O’Leary; Art and Sheila Perrone, and Bo and Kathy Von der Ahe.